PARRAMATTA Eels player Ken Edwards has been hit with an $800 fine and a year-long Glitter Strip ban for drunkenly punching a fan in Surfers Paradise.
The 25-year-old NRL lock was charged with public nuisance on July 4 and today his lawyer pleaded guilty on his behalf in the Southport Magistrates Court.
The court was told Edwards had been partying with mates on the nightclub strip when he was approached by an Eels fan who joined himfor a few drinks.
But the situation soured when the fan made derogatory comments about Edwards’ brother.
SURFERS BAN: Kenny Edwards has been banned from the Glitter Strip for a year and fined $800. Source: News Corp Australia
Streetside CCTV footage showed Edwards roughing up the fan on OrchidAvenue before pushing him into random strangers, causing a female to hit her head on a wall.
The footage also showed Edwards motioning to shake hands with the fan but then punching him with a surprise left-hand jab.
The fan was knocked out for a few seconds and police detained Edwards outside the Hilton Hotel around 3.40am.
Under-fire Parramatta Eels star Kenny Edwards looks to take down Newcastle's Akuila Uate Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia
Solicitor Campbell MacCallum said Edwards was drunk and had little memory of the incident but the repercussions from his NRL club had been swift and painful.
Edwards has already served a one-match suspension, lost a $60,000 third-party sponsorship deal and will have to face the NRL Integrity Unit where he could receive more sanctions.
The incident is yet another embarrassment for Edwards, a formerKeebra Park Australian Schoolboy rep, who lost contracts at Manly and St George Illawarra over disciplinary issues.
He was offered a third and final chance to stay in the league last year by signing a one-year contract with the Parramatta Eels in 2013 and he has since been re-signed to the club until 2017.
In court, Mr MacCallum asked that Edwards’ appearance be excused as he was obligated to play tonight in the Friday night clash versus the Rabbitohs at Parramatta’s Pirtek Stadium.
CRASH, BANG: Newcastle's Beau Scott (left) tussles with Parramatta's Kenny Edwards during the Parramatta versus Newcastle rugby league game at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta. P
Instead he read a letter of apology from Edwards.
“I’m truly sorry to any person I affected by my stupid actions,” Edwards said.
“No matter what comments were said there was no reason for me to act the way that I did and I’m sorry and take full responsible for my actions.”
Magistrate Kerry Magee said he was lucky no-one had been seriously injured and sentenced him to an $800 fine and no conviction.
She also banned him from the Surfers Paradise Drink Safe precinct until July 2015.
